The Great Silent One - Moltke the Austrian TL
- Thread starter Ultima Ratio
- Start date
Okay, so before going forward with the pivotal events of the 1910s, I think I'll write an update about the current situation with each Great Power (plus some minor ones), just to see where we are.
Ludwig von Stieglitz
Banned
if i am not mistaken, Uk was one of the primary stakeholders in the venezuelan crisis
Yes, along with Germany and Italy. Things will be a bit different in this case though, due to the obvious lack of Italy.
I'm also trying to get a rough idea of potential French naval power ITTL. With no immediate threat of land invasion from Germany, no defeat in 1870 and continental balance of power in place the Anglo-French naval arms race never ended (it ended in 1870 OTL). The question is, how much bigger the French navy grow? Bearing in mind that the French Empire of 1910 TTL is in a stronger position than the French Republic in OTL 1910. I also know that the British will always try to keep a gap, so continued French naval expansion prompts British expansion as well. Germany ITTL does not have the naval ambitions of OTL, but does have a blue water navy due to colonies.
Ludwig von Stieglitz
Banned
mmm...I do not know...while relations with germany may be better ITTL, germany is still the main threat to France. Enlarging the navy would suck huge amounts of steel, severely weakening the army, with the country ending as an easy prey for any German move. While countering british dominion of the seas nay be appealing (and a losing bet long-term), exposing themselves to german whims may be catastrophical for france, ad they would end up doing critically dependent on german godwill
Yes, what I'm curious about is how big the French navy can get within reasonable limits (ie not putting it ahead of the army).
One thing to keep in mind is that French naval planners will be basing their designs and ship numbers on a completely different strategy than OTL. OTL the French-British alliance specified that France would focus her navy on the Mediterranean to counter Italy if Italy went CP while the British would deal with the high seas fleet. Here, the primary enemy of the French navy remains the Royal Navy. Sure, they have to keep an eye on the Germans just in case, but french naval strategy, whatever it is ends up being, will be focused on Britain as he enemy to beat. The question is whether France tries the OTL german strategy of trying to outbuild the Royal Navy (a losing endeavor) or tries something unique, like getting into the submarine game early or building a ton of torpedo boats and other hit and run type ships.
I'll try, but I can't guarantee that it will be extremely in-depth. Partly because of my lack of knowledge on some of those subjects, and partly due to lack of time.
Chapter XII - The Great Drum-roll
Chapter XII - The Great
Drum-roll
(An overview of the world at the turn of the decade)
Emperor Franz Josef in 1910
Drum-roll
(An overview of the world at the turn of the decade)
Emperor Franz Josef in 1910
The German Empire
Ruled by Emperor Franz Josef, Germany at the end of the 1900s was a prospering, rich and militarily powerful nation that was slowly wresting the leadership as the cultural center of Europe from France as well. German industry soared, as the major industrial centers of the Ruhr, Rhineland and Bohemia contributed to Germany dominating the world steel market along the USA by 1910, putting Britain to the third place. German corporatist mentality, strong bureaucratic tradition and the reliance on trade associations instead of cut-throat competition helped smaller firms to function alongside large corporations. German machinery, iron, steel and other heavy industry was now dominating the world market with no sign of stopping. Expansion of the railway system and modernization of the agriculture were also prominent, as well as the extreme growth of chemical research, making Germany the chemical center of the world. The German banking sector also rose to prominence post unification, with Vienna slowly rising to be the banking center of Europe. As a result of the economic miracle, the German middle class grew exponentially, although it never gained such political power as in France or the US. Following the unification with Prussia, many welfare programs from Prussia and Saxony were adopted in the Empire as a whole, which included old age pensions, accident insurance, medical care and unemployment insurance, making the German Empire the first modern welfare state. German women's organizations also gained prominence, leading to the formation of the Association of German Women's Organizations. Welfare proved to be successful in reducing the outflow of German immigrants to the US, and was thus also supported by the industry.
Cultural life in Vienna blossomed and the era was considered the new Golden Age of the city. This contributed to an interesting image of Germany abroad. For some, it was an image of factory chimneys, roaring furnaces and steam-clad locomotives, to some goosestepping soldiers and to increasingly more people, an image of Viennese coffeehouses, operas, concerts and cultural gatherings with an Alpine backdrop. While the German Empire, mostly due to the venerable Kaiser was mostly considered as a pillar of the Old Order, cities like Vienna, Prague, Munich, Cologne and Hannover had quite the bohemian scene of young artists.
They say that no-one is more fanatical than a convert. This is probably true for the Prussian soldier, who has fought and died on the field of Grünberg and was now providing the backbone of the Reichsarmee. While post-unification many Prussian officers left Germany to find employment elsewhere (mostly Hungary), the Prussian military classes have become ardent supporters of the Empire. And they were needed, as Prussian discipline was essential in creating the unified Reichsarmee of the German Empire, which has by 1910 become the strongest in Europe, and some might say the world. Franz Josef himself saw the new unified army as the base on which newfound German pride and nationalism could be built on, and it was a powerful foundation indeed. The German Reichsflotte was a commendable blue water force, but was always forced to play second fiddle to the army. The Anglo-German Naval Agreement also placed limitations on German dreadnoughts, although it competing in numbers with the Royal Navy wasn't the goal of the German Admiralty. Nevertheless, the navy did much research in developing asymmetric counter to British sea power, most prominent of which was submarine development, of which Germany had by far the largest and most modern force. There were also early proposals for building reliable platforms for seaplanes in order to replace reconnaissance balloons and blimps with faster moving airplanes.
German Africa also saw much development during the time, with modern irrigation, railroads and prospecting expeditions to try to exploit the natural resources of the Horn of Africa. In parallel, many Germans moved to Africa, partly because of the population boom and partly because the government's generous handouts of land in order to boost the region. German Africa was often called rather useless by many politicians, yet the state considered it as a source of prestige to hold onto it, and invest money in development. Djibuti in particular would become a booming port that hosted many nationalities and was the central setting to many paperback adventure and espionage novels later in the 1930s.
The Royal Navy at sea
Great Britain
The United Kingdom was the undisputed master of the sea 1910, controlling an empire on which the sun never set. But things were not as easy as just 30 years ago. England had few allies and increasingly more enemies. While Russia's defeat and the alliance with Japan was reassuring, many thought that Britain was chaining itself to a corpse, by supporting the Ottoman Empire. And supporting she did, British officers trained Ottoman armies, Ottoman ships were built in British shipyards and British weapons were shipped at steep prices. In fact, the reports from the foreign office and the officers in the field painted an admirable picture on the progress of the Ottoman military reforms, especially after the Young Turks forced the adoption of a constitution in 1908. Britain also gained firm control of Iran after the 1905 revolution against the Shah, thereby properly surrounding Russia in Eurasia.
British industry which was at the forefront of the world was now slowly being sidelined by Germany and the US, but the wealth from the colonies and the sheer prestige commanded by Britain was still enough to fill every Briton's heart with pride. Being mostly alienated themselves on the continent in Europe, Britain also looked to establish cordial relations with other powers in order to not become completely isolated. The support for the USA during the Venezuela Crisis in 1908 improved relations with the former colony, while the renewal of the Japanese alliance gave them a strong ally in the East.
Jean-Baptiste Marchand leading French colonial forces in Africa
The French Empire
The ever-expanding "Liberal Empire" of Europe under Napoleon IV was no longer the major military force on the continent, yet the idea of Gloire never died. Relentlessly pushing ever forward on the Dark Continent, France controlled vast territory in Africa, and French armies were not at all something that could be dismissed easily. Lacking the huge population of her neighbor, France was still a strong, stable and prestigious nation. After his father's "loss of the reins of Europe", Napoleon IV has taken initiative in the Mediterranean, expanded both army and navy and pursued the most shrewd diplomacy since Talleyrand. As a result, the Western Mediterranean was controlled from the City of Lights, either directly or through allies like Spain and Sicily (the formal alliance was ratified in 1908 and was known as the Marseilles League). The French navy was expanded considerably, and like Germany, looked to chepaer asymmetric methods to counter Britain. Unlike the Germans who relied on U-boats, France invested much in smaller torpedo boats which would be useful in the shallow inner seas, while relied on large capital ships in the wider oceans.
By 1910, there wasn't much to conquer in Africa, and France was looking more and more eagerly towards Ottoman Libya, which was increasingly drifting away from Constantinople. This caused much concern in Britain, as Libya was right next to British Egypt. Thus, the Ottomans moved forces to the region to restore order and discourage any French adventuring. Still, the Foreign Legion was ever so close, while the Sultan ever so far...
The Czar with his family
The Russian Empire
The defeat by Japan saw monumental changes in Russia, which was called by the Czar in his memoirs as the "conclusion of Grandfather's work". The near-revolution and reforms that followed the defeat set Russia on the course for becoming a truly modern state. But the road was long and enemies were watching Mother Russia's every step. Modernization of the army immediately started, as well as the enormous work of finishing the Trans-Siberian Railway to supply and protect Vladivostok. Because Russia was now surrounded again. Not in Europe perhaps, but Britain forced her to a corner all across the Eurasian continent. "But John Bull might learn that a cornered bear is a dangerous beast" - as an 1910 editorial in the Pravda put it. German and French loans allowed for the building of new railways, purchasing of Krupp guns, and erecting forts around Vladivostok. The navy was partly rebuilt, although it was little more than a coastal force defending the Baltic and Black Seas. Russian society also slowly changed. Industrialization brought around urbanization and a new working class, which the somewhat idealist Nicholas tried to rely on for support by providing better working conditions and subsidies. It was still a long way to go, but the first steps were taken.
Satirical comic of the Gilded Age
The United States of America
In 1910, the US was in a comfortable place. Unchallenged on the American continent, the ever growing industrial powerhouse could just sit back and enjoy the benefits of the Gilded Age. While the steady flow of immigrants brought some troubles in the form of organized crime and poverty in some areas, it also brought a cheap and reliable workforce which allowed to the US to become an industrious and rich nation. While the blunder of the Cuban Crisis did tarnish US reputation globally, they have since made up for it during the Venezuelan Crisis, an event which eased real and imagined tensions between Britain and the US, although alienating the Germans and French a bit. The US Navy proved to be a strong enough force to dissuade any European intervention in the Americas and enforce the Monroe Doctrine. Isolation worked for the US, and they were happy to stay that way.
Nippon Kaigun
The Japanese Empire
Following the defeat of Russia and the subsequent annexation of the Philippines, Japan was considered by all to be a Great Power. Militarism was on the rise and both army and navy were strengthened as Japan prepared for further expansion. China was in turmoil, and the opportunity was there to expand Japanese influence. However, the Philippines was in a state of civil war and restoring order took much time, money and manpower. Russian modernization also did not go unnoticed, and Japan prepared for a second round of confrontation.
The Beiyang Army in training
Following the humiliation of the Boxer Rebellion, the days of the Qing were numbered. The slow and steady decay of Qing power was marked by rebellions and formation of various anti-Qing groups. By 1910, the nation was close to falling apart, and the imperial dynasty was finally overthrown during the Xinhai Revolution in 1911. The new republican government was anything but stable however, as warlordism was on the rise, while Japan effectively occupied Manchuria. The new government mostly relied on the Beiyang Army, the only modern force in China to keep power and reached out to European powers in an attempt to modernize. Germany was the first to step in, offering army advisers and modern equipment to boost the new government in an attempt to bring them into their sphere of influence. Unlike other Great Powers, Germany was the most accepted in China, due to them not having any major holdings in Asia.
A poster from the unification days
The Scandinavian Federation
Scandinavia enjoyed a long period of peace and prosperity at the turn of the century, and by 1910 was a stable and strong regional power. Unfortunately for them, they were nested between giants. Thus the government in the new federal capital in Malmö was orienting towards their greatest trade partner: Germany. With the ultimate goal of joining the Zollverein, Scandinavia strengthened her ties with the large Southern neighbor. Culturally, the Scandinavian movement was soaring, as linguists were attempting to bring the three main languages in the North closer together. The common national anthem was adopted in 1902, which would be Andersen's poem Jeg er en Skandinav, put to music by Otto Lindblad.
The Royal Castle in Budapest
Hungary
A member of the Zollverein along with Tuscany, Hungary enjoyed extreme development during the turn of the century. Improvements in agriculture and widespread industrialization lead to urbanization and Hungary was slowly becoming a truly modern state. A great boom in population due to improved medicine contributed greatly to the state's Magyarization policies in rural areas in Western Transylvania, Upper Hungary and the southern regions, where modern school systems and sometimes outright harsh treatment sped up assimilation. Hungary also became a heavily militarized state in the era, mostly in fear of the surrounding new nations in the Balkans that had ethnic population inside Hungary. Although a German ally and protected by various treaties by Germany and Russia pertaining to their respective spheres of influence, Hungary armed herself nonetheless. The employment of Prussian officers after German Unification laid the grounds for the modern Honvéd, and the tradition of hiring retired German officers to adviser roles was still very much in fashion in 1910. It was also the era when Budapest grew considerably, becoming a major transportation and cultural center, often called the Pearl of the Danube.
Someone's always fucked in any timeline
The Italians aren't having the best time either.
No your not, now be a good Hungarian and join up with the Honeved.
Also should the German-Hungarian-Russian alliance hold, Slovakia will be about as far from the front as possible.
Actually I guess I wouldn’t even exist.No your not, now be a good Hungarian and join up with the Honeved.
Also should the German-Hungarian-Russian alliance hold, Slovakia will be about as far from the front as possible.
Mass emigration during magyarization would butterfly me.
To be fair, any TL with a 19th century POD precludes any of us on this board from existing due to butterflies.Actually I guess I wouldn’t even exist.
Mass emigration during magyarization would butterfly me.